DA: Expired ASF vaccines won't be purchased

The Department of Agriculture (DA) assured Tuesday that the government would not purchase expired vaccines against African swine fever (ASF) amid its spread in Batangas and other areas.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said some stocks are already in the country for the government's perusal, but these reached their expiration dates as the processing and approval have taken a while to complete. Although vaccines are urgently needed by hog raisers, these expired stocks will be kept away from distribution.

"While totoo na nagparating sila ng bakuna in the hope na magkaroon agad ng procurement at approval from FDA (Food and Drug Administration), since it took some time for the review, processing, and eventually approval for controlled vaccination, inabot na 'yon ng expiry," De Mesa said.

(While it's true that a company has sent vaccines in the hope that procurement and FDA approval would be completed promptly, it took some time for the review, processing, and eventual approval for the controlled vaccination to be completed. These vaccines already reached their expiry.)

De Mesa stressed, "The government will not accept any expired vaccines."

The DA issued the statement after farmers' group Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag) expressed concerns about the possible use of expired ASF vaccines.

Sinag chairman Rosendo So said, "Ino-object natin paggamit kasi bibilhin ng government 'yan, dapat bago and isa is walang assurance kung may effect pa 'yan."

(We object the government's purchase of these ASF vaccines. These should be new. There is no assurance that the vaccines eyed for procurement would still be effective.)

The DA is poised to initially purchase initially some 10,000 doses of ASF vaccines via emergency procurement. This batch is part of the 600,000 doses expected to be procured by the government to prevent the spread of ASF.

"Magpapadala ulit ng bago. Ang bakuna ay magiging good for two years 'pag dumating (New stocks will be sent. The vaccine will be good for two years upon arrival)," De Mesa said.

Meanwhile, the government has increased the indemnification from the previous P5,000 per head to P4,000 per piglet, P8,000 for medium sized hogs, and P12,000 for large ones.

"This will definitely help ma-control 'yung pagpupuslit doon sa mga infected animals kasi normally 'yan ang pinaka-reason bakit mabilis kumalat yung ASF. Kung infected na 'yung baboy, siyempre mas gusto nila maibenta pa ulit lalo na kung magsisimula pa lang. So kung isusuko na nila 'yung baboy na may infection mapipiligan 'yung pagkalat," De Mesa said.

(This will definitely help control the unauthorized transport of infected animals. That is normally the main reason why ASF spreads quickly. If there are infected hogs, some may want to sell these right away at the early stages of illness. So if the infected hogs are surrendered, the spread will be averted.)

Late last July, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA was set to begin the government's trial of an ASF vaccine in the third quarter of 2024, with an initial 150,000 vials of the AVAC ASF Live from Vietnam.

The vaccine was earlier approved the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its initial rollout will involve the controlled and regulated use of 150,000 doses.

Tiu Laurel announced Tuesday that 10,000 doses of the ASF vaccine are due to arrive in the country next week. These will be distributed to hog raisers for free.

The DA is targeting to vaccinate 600,000 hogs by the end of the year.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Batangas has declared a state of calamity due to the increasing cases of ASF in the province. — VDV, GMA Integrated News